10 Best Wrestlers Of 2019

9. Fénix

Will Ospreay
Scott Lesh

Fénix is an impossible professional wrestler. The things of which he is capable are impossible.

But he doesn't do those things purely because he is capable of them. They are offensive strategies that, like the best aerialists, allow him to attack his opponents from every angle and from a distance others cannot. And, because his balance is so supernatural, his strategy is almost risk-free and thus intelligent; when he somehow conspires to sprint across the ropes, he gains momentum from every inch of the ring.

Fénix contrives to get himself over as a spectacular pro wrestler, when spectacular pro wrestling is the norm, in exhilarating dances of deception that are also thudding in their physicality. He makes pro wrestling look easy, beautiful and violent.

He has starred in singles and tag team competition as a jaw-dropping standout in AEW thus far - his chemistry with Nick Jackson is on a Flair/Steamboat, Okada/Tanahashi level - and if you bristled at Cody's inclusion, you cannot begrudge Fénix of his placement: he wrestles a ridiculously loaded schedule and operates at an unreal level across Mexico and every recess of the U.S. Independent circuit.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!